Rotary cotton chopping cutter



April 12, 1932. E. AL BAUGH 1,853,489

ROTARY COTTON CHOPPING CUTTER Filed March 17, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1 April 12, 1932.

E. ALBAUGH ROTARY COTTON CHOPPING CUTTER Filed March 17, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 12, 1932 p UNHTED S AT S,

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ELLIS ALBAU GH, OF SAN ANTONIO. TEXAS, ASSIGNOR TO DIXIE GOTTON MACHINERY COMPANY, OF SAN ANTQNIO, TEXAS; A CQR-POBATION OF DELAWARE ROTARY COTTON cr-rorrms CUTTER Application filed March 17, esoqsem m. 436,619.

I This invention aims to provide a new i. and improved rotary cutter for use on cotton chopping machines and of such nature as to be unusually efficient, relying both upon the i" rotation of the cutter and the forward movement of the machine for efiecting a shearing cut and consequently requiring'a minimum of power for its operation. I I

A. further object'is to provide a cutter which will produce a loose mulch between the cotton stalks left standing and will throwa quantity of theloosened earth around said stalks, thereby hastening their growth.

A still further object is to provide novel means for securing carrying arms for the cutting blades, to the hub of the cutter.

WVith the foregoingand minor objects in view, the invention resides inthe novel sub ject matter hereinafter described and claimed, description being accomplished by reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. l is a side elevation of a portion of a cotton chopping machine embodying the improved cutter, the latter being shown in lowered position.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the cutter,

its carrying shaft being in section. 7

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are det'allsectlonal views through one of the blades as indicatedby lines 3-8, 4-4 and 55 ofFig. 2, showing the longitudinal twist which exists inconnect'ion with each blade.

Fig. 6 is an upper edge view of the cutter in the position shown in Fig 2.

Fig. 7' is a sectional viewas indicated of the invention as claimed, minor variations.

may be made. I p

The cutter embodies a hub 10 adapted for mounting on a driven shaft 11 forming part of a cotton chopping'machine M, the.plane of rotation of the cutter being transverse to the line of movement of the machine. Blade'- carrying arms 12 are secured to and project from the periphery of the hub 10, the outer ends of these arms being equipped with curved, cifrcumferentially spaced," substantially'concentric and helically pitched blades 13 which retreat 'rearwar'dly 'from their leading ends 16.- In the present showing, the

leading. ends 16 of the blades 13 are integral with the outer ends of; the arms 12 and by referring to said ends 16 as leading ends, I

mean thatthey are first to penetrate the earth. Each of the blades 13'is provided, with a" sharpened front edge 15 which, due to the helical pitching of the blades is obliqne to theplane in whichthe cutter rotates as will bevclear from Figs l and 6. The leading or enteringend'lG isrounded, curves'toward' the hub-1O and is integral'with the outer end of arm 12, and the edge 15. extends uninterruptedlyalong said ro'unded'end" and tothe free trailing end of the blade. The end16 protectsthe remainder" of the blade against blowsand foreign matter and will notcollect vegetable grdwth. v

The cutter enters the ground at vpoint 16 and asthe machine moves forward, the successive points of the cutting edge 15 travel at sucha's'peed and angle that the resultant cut ting points'act in a slicing motion, giving much the same action as th'sliding sweeping slice of a properly swung scythe.) That is, the rearward angle of the cutting edge 15 traveling in atransversecircle has a circumferential movement and gives aslicingaction in which the cutting points 16 lead the successive points "on the blades 15 to the points Adjusting means at the eye-bolts 12 in which friction blocks 17 are used together with the blade-carrying arms 12, allowsaid arms 12 to be turned in sockets'18, a forward or rearward arc movement of free poi'n'tl l of the cutting blade being thus effected.

By alforwa'rd orrearward setting of the point 14, aflesser or greater free uncut space islobtained whichwill give any desired stand .or uncut growth jofthe plant s inthdrows. The'seblades enter the' ground with aslittle resistance as possible creating a' pulverized condition of the top soil and are self-cleaning and self-sharpening. In addition to performing a cutting function, the blades will loosen the earth, travel under the loosened earth and allow the latter to fall behind said blades, producing an effective mulch.

I In the present showing, the arms 12 are flat, and at their inner ends, substantially semi-cylindrical blocks 17 of hard wood or other desired material, are applied against opposite sides of said arms, providing cylin drical constructions which are partially received in grooves 18 formed in one end of the hub 10, the hub being preferably poly sided and the grooves disposed along the sides thereof as shown most clearly in Big. 8. The hub 10 is'in the present showing, provided with other grooves 19 transverse to the grooves lS, and with openings 2O leading from the grooved end of the hub to the opposits end th'ereof. Bolts 2l are received in these openings "and are provided with yokes 22 which engage the inner ends of the arms 12 and the blocks 17 and hence clamp these parts tightly 1n thegrooves 18. The

outer portions of theyokes'22 are receivedin the grooves 19 and hence turning of the bolts 21 is prevented, upon tightening of their nuts 7 23, or upon loosening of said nuts.

Theconstruction above described, not only forms eifectivemeans for attaching the arms 12 to the hub 10, but by loosening the nuts 23, the blocks l7 and arms 12, may turn allowing positioning of the blades 13 at any desired angular relation. withithe planev of rotation ofthe cutter as a whole.

' It will be seen from the foregoing that although the invention isof rather simple and inexpensive nature, it willbe highlyefiicient and desirable. Attention is again in vited to the fact that variations may bemade within the scope of the invention as claimed,-

even though the. preferred structure has been disclosed and specifically described. 7

T'hese drawings and specifications have covered the operation of the cutter head as setfin the rear of theland wheels. t is desired alsothat these specifications shall cover this cutter head as set in a forward position of theland-whe'els, in which position thecut? terhead shall'operateas above described. "Icl aim: I

,lgA cotton chopping cutter. intended to rotate in a plane transverse to a row of cotton,"said cutter comprising ahub, an arm projecting rigidly'froin the periphery of said hub,ga curved helicallyipitched blade having a rounded entering end which; curves toward saidhub and is secured to the outer end of said arm, said rounded enterin g end protecting the remainder of the blade from blows and'forelgn matter, said blade havlng a free 'trailing endand being formed with" a front cutting edge'extending' along said rounded length of the blade, said edge receding rearwardly fromsaid entering end of said blade to said free end of the latter.

2. A cotton chopping cutter intended for rotation in a planetransverse to a row of cotton, said'cutter comprising a hub, an arm projecting from the periphery of said hub,

' a helically pitched blade carried by the outer end of and rigidlyattached to said arm, and adjusting means comprising a U bolt and friction block for securing said arm to said hub. and allowing turning of the former to vary the angular position of said blade with regardto the plane of rotation of the cutter.

3. A rotary cutter comprising a hub having' a groove in one end, one end of'said groove opening through the periphery of the'hub', said hub also having'an opening from its other end to said groove, acutter-carrying arm having one end'received in said groove, said arm being'turnable about an axis uniirectional with its length, and a bolt passing through said opening and having a yoke receivingsaid arm, said bolt and yoke being adapted for holding said arm in said groove, 2' irdless of the position to which the arm he'ft'urned. a I r A rotary cutter comprising a hub having a groove in one end, one end of said groove opening through the periphery of the hub, said hubalso having'an opening from its otherend to said groove, a flat cutter-carrying arnn'two substantially semi-cylindrical blocks lying against opposite sides of said arin, said} blocks and arm lying partially within said groove," and 'a bolt passing throng said opening, said bolt having a yokc co-opei ug ithlsaid groove in surrounding and clamping said blocks and arnn i In a deviceof the class described, a body having a groove in one side and an opening leading from said groove toits opposite side, a member lying within said groove, said member being turnable about'an' axis uni-directional with'its length,,and a bolt passing through said opening and having a yoke receiving said member, said bolt and yoke being adapted for holding said member in said grooveregardless of the position. to which said memberbeturned.

6. In a deviceiof the class described, a body having a groovein oneside and an opening from said grooveto' its opposite side, a fiat member, two substantially semi-cylindrical blocks applied to opposite sides ofsaid member and forming a cylindrical construction which; ispartially received in said groove, and a bolt. passing through said openingand having a yoke co-operable with said groove in clamping saidcylindricalconstruction.

. ,In testimonv whereof'I have hereunto 'af fixed myisignature.

' 1, Firms ALBAUGH.

entering end and continuing throughout the 

